(1 of 6)
January 23, 2006
MMWR INCLUDES CDC'S REPORT ON ADAMANTANE RESISTANCE AMONG INFLUENZA A (H3N2)
VIRUSES AND INTERIM GUIDELINES FOR USE OF ANTIVIRAL AGENTS

CDC published "High Levels of Adamantane Resistance Among Influenza A (H3N2)
Viruses and Interim Guidelines for Use of Antiviral Agents--United States,
2005-06 Influenza Season" in the January 20 MMWR. Previously, the article
was available only in electronic format as an MMWR Dispatch.

(2 of 6)
January 23, 2006
WHO PUBLISHES THE DECEMBER 2005 MEETING REPORT OF THE GLOBAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE ON VACCINE SAFETY

On January 13, the WHO publication Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER)
published "Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety [GACVS], 1-2 December
2005." An expert clinical and scientific advisory body, GACVS deals
independently and with scientific rigor with vaccine safety issues of
potential global importance. It held its thirteenth meeting December 1-2,
2005.

(3 of 6)
January 23, 2006
CDC ADDS TO AND UPDATES ITS INFLUENZA WEB SECTION

CDC recently added a new patient-information flyer to its Influenza web
section. In addition, CDC posted to the web section many revised pieces
regarding antiviral agents for influenza and one Q&A piece about avian
influenza.

NEW
(1) "Flyer: Important notice to all patients--please tell staff immediately
if you have flu symptoms" (1/18/06)

The National Immunization Coalitions (TA) Network and its parent
organization, the Academy for Educational Development, will offer one or
more training sessions in Atlanta on March 5, one day before the start of
the National Immunization Conference. To decide which session(s) to offer,
the network needs immediate feedback from potential attendees.

(5 of 6)
January 23, 2006
CDC REPORTS ON U.S. INFLUENZA ACTIVITY DURING JANUARY 1-7

CDC published "Update: Influenza Activity--United States, January 1-7, 2006"
in the January 20 MMWR. A portion of the article is reprinted below.

*****************

During January 1-7, 2006, the number of states reporting widespread
influenza activity remained at seven. Eleven states reported regional
activity, nine reported local activity, and 21 reported sporadic activity.

(6 of 6)
January 23, 2006
MMWR LIST OF EXAMS AVAILABLE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT INCLUDES THREE
RELATED TO IMMUNIZATION AND VIRAL HEPATITIS

CDC published "MMWR Continuing Education Exams Available for Credit" in the
January 20 MMWR. It lists 19 exams for which health professionals can
receive continuing education credit.

Three exams relate to immunization:

(1) A comprehensive immunization strategy to eliminate transmission of
hepatitis B virus infection in the United States: Recommendations of the
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Part 1: Immunization of
infants, children, and adolescents (expires 12/23/08)

(2) Prevention and control of meningococcal disease: Recommendations of the
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) (expires 5/27/08)

(3) Guidelines for laboratory testing and result reporting of antibody to
hepatitis C virus (expires 2/7/06)